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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Still LoLo by Lauren Scruggs

I snagged Still Lolo last month from Costco's book table and stuffed it in my own Christmas stocking. Lauren's story caught my attention a little over a year ago when our local radio stations spread news of her horrific accident of being struck by an airplane propeller.

The accident occurred on my birthday, Dec 3, 2011, and it came up in conversation with my parents and brothers a few weeks later as we gathered for Christmas. Around the kitchen island of my parents' home, which is situated in an airport community with a large hangar attached to their home, I relayed shock that this beautiful young woman from Dallas was in serious condition after walking into a propeller. As a flying family, we felt a surge of empathy for the family. My pilot-brother Trey responded, "Well of course, the airplane's prop is completely invisible when it's going."

It must have been a tremendous labor of love to get this story down for all of us readers.
Why I'm grateful for the Scruggs' efforts:
- It's an interesting, intriguing story. While the accident of course highlights a crescendo to this family's suffering, there's much more to this story than the accident. It's one of their family as a whole - parents and both daughters - living each day to bring glory to God as a family. With mistakes, with pitfalls, but with a community of deep friends and deep grace.
- The Scruggs are from Dallas, so it's familiar to me: the neighborhoods, the hospitals, the landmarks, and many of the people involved in their story personalizes it a bit for me.
- I can hear Lauren's voice in the writing. She's funny and intelligent, and I laughed out loud and cried (probably cried more) reading her words.
- The collaborative style of chapters written by Lauren, her father, her mother, and her sister WORKS. It envelops readers into this family's story with incredible depth as we get multiple viewpoints. Marcus Brotherton, the mastermind behind this project, succeeded in fitting all the puzzle pieces of information and personalities and viewpoints together for crafting a seamless, intimate story.
- Lauren sharing her personal encouragement from reading Roaring Lambs by Bob Briner, which I just ordered on amazon this morning.
- I admire Lauren's mom, Cheryl, for several reasons. First is her humility in rebuilding her marriage as she came to know Christ after their divorce. But also because she recognized in Lauren a free spirit, and encouraged her to take time off from college for a creative pursuit in NY. She prioritized Lauren's off-beat personality and natural bent in determining how to encourage her daughter. From what I see in my own children, I anticipate that Corbin and I will have opportunities for that kind of parenting with at least one of our creative / free spirit kiddos.
- Lauren's sister, Brittany, emerges as a silent hero in this story, one that probably doesn't want to be in the spotlight. Her constant support and love inspires. And I'm touched by the closeness of these twins.
- Title of the book - perfect. Still Lolo.
- Includes the bonus of a great look-book with full-color recent photos of Lauren, illustrates her journey to healing.

I purchased this book (instead of checking out from the library) because I want it in our home library. I want Basden and Esther to see
Lauren's book on our shelves, to see her beautiful
photos and read her beautiful words. I want them to reach for this book a few years from now and ingest the
honest story of a very real, very normal modern-day hero. And I use the word hero with Lauren
because by demonstrating courage and hope
in the face of great tragedy, she lifts our eyes to the eternal ~ how normal, every-day people fight to keep hope in a God who does not, does not disappoint.

Finally, I think this endorsement sums up how I feel about Still Lolo:"God often gives stories to strengthen the weary heart. I think you'll find this story to be one of those." - Matt Chandler